Electoral milestones for Indigenous Australians

Aboriginal society was governed by customary laws handed down by the creative ancestral beings

1770

Captain Cook claimed the eastern half of the Australian continent for Great Britain.

1788

European settlement of Australia commenced. When colonising Australia, the British Government used the term Terra Nullius (meaning land of no-one) to justify the dispossession of Indigenous people. Traditional Aboriginal systems of tribal land ownership were neither recognised nor acknowledged. Colonial and later national development was based exclusively on the English legal system

1829

British sovereignty extended to cover the whole of Australia – everyone born in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, became a British subject by birth

1843

First parliamentary elections in Australia (for New South Wales Legislative Council) were held. The right to vote was limited to men with a freehold valued at £200 or a householder paying rent of £20 per year

1850 +

The Australian colonies become self governing – all adult (21 years) male British subjects were entitled to vote in South Australia from 1856, in Victoria from 1857, New South Wales from 1858, and Tasmania from 1896. This included Indigenous people but they were not encouraged to enrol. Queensland gained self-government in 1859 and Western Australia in 1890, but these colonies denied Indigenous people the vote

1885

Queensland Elections Act excluded all Indigenous people from voting

1893

Western Australian law denied the vote to Indigenous people

1895

All adult women in South Australia, including Indigenous women, won the right to vote

1901

Commonwealth Constitution became operative – Section 41 was interpreted to deny the vote to all Indigenous people, except those on state rolls

1902

The first Commonwealth Parliament passed the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, which was progressive for its time in granting the vote to both men and women. It did however; specifically exclude 'any aboriginal native of Australia, Asia, Africa or the Islands of the Pacific, except New Zealand' from Commonwealth franchise unless already enrolled in a state. The Aboriginal franchise was further reduced in practice by admitting only those Aboriginal people already enrolled in a state in 1902.

1915

Queensland introduced compulsory voting. This was later introduced in all other jurisdictions

1920

Commonwealth Nationality Act denied the vote to people of South Sea Island origin despite being British Subjects

1922

Regulations in the Northern Territory excluded Indigenous people from voting. Officials had the power to decide who was Indigenous

1925

Natives of British India gained the vote in Australian federal elections

1940s +

Professor AP Elkin, the Aborigines Friends Association, and others agitated for better conditions for Indigenous people and their right to vote

1948

Nationality and Citizenship Act established that all Australian born people are citizens of Australia rather than British subjects

1949

The right to vote in federal elections was extended to Indigenous people who had served in the armed forces, or were enrolled to vote in state elections. Indigenous people in Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory still could not vote in their own state/territory elections

1957

Under the Northern Territory Welfare Ordinance, almost all Indigenous people in the Northern Territory were declared to be "wards of the state" and denied the vote

1962

Commonwealth Electoral Act provided that Indigenous Australians should have the right to enrol and vote at federal elections, including Northern Territory elections, but enrolment was not compulsory. Despite this amendment, it was illegal under Commonwealth legislation to encourage Indigenous Australians to enrol to vote. Western Australia extended the State vote to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Voter education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people began in the Northern Territory. 1 338 Indigenous Australians enrolled to vote in Northern Territory elections

1965

Queensland allowed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to vote in State elections. Queensland was the last State to grant this right

1967

A Referendum approved Commonwealth Constitutional change. Section 127 of the Constitution was struck out in its entirety. This amendment allowed Indigenous Australians to be counted in the Commonwealth Census. Section 51 of the Constitution was amended to allow the Commonwealth to make special laws for Indigenous people. Both Houses of the Parliament passed the proposed Act unanimously; consequently a 'No' case was not submitted. More than 90% of Australians registered a YES vote with all six states voting in favour

1971

Neville Bonner AO (1922–1999) was the first Indigenous Australian to be appointed to Federal Parliament in Australia. Neville Bonner was born on Ukerbagh Island in the Tweed River in New South Wales. After many years of itinerant work, he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the half Senate election in 1970. In 1971 Neville Bonner was appointed by the Queensland Parliament to replace the Queensland Liberal Senator, Dame Annabel Rankin, who had retired from Federal Parliament. At the 1972 election he was returned as a Liberal Senator for Queensland. Senator Bonner continued to represent Queensland as a Liberal Senator until 1983. At the 1983 election he stood as an Independent candidate but was not re-elected

1973

First national elections for Indigenous people to elect 41 members of the National Aboriginal Consultative committee. More than 27 000 Indigenous people voted. Minimum voting age lowered from 21 to 18

1974

Hyacinth Tungutalum (Country Liberal Party), from Bathurst Island was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Arafura. Eric Deeral (National Party), became the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the Queensland Parliament representing the electorate of Cook

1977

Neville Perkins (Australian Labor Party) was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. He became the first Indigenous Australian to hold a shadow portfolio, and was appointed deputy leader of the Northern Territory Australian Labor Party

1979

Australian Electoral Commission began the Aboriginal Electoral Education Program. Cyril Kennedy (Australian Liberal Party) was the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the electorate of Waverley.

1980

Ernie Bridge (Australian Labor Party) became the first Indigenous member of the Parliament of Western Australian when he won the seat of Kimberley. He later became the first Indigenous Australian to hold a Ministerial office. Mobile polling first used in remote Northern Territory and Western Australia for state/territory election

1983

Wesley Lanhupuy (Australian Labor Party), from central coastal Arnhem land was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Arnhem

1984

Mobile polling first used in remote Northern Territory and Western Australia for Commonwealth elections. Enrolment and voting in Commonwealth elections made compulsory for Indigenous Australians

1987

Stanley Tipiloura (Australian Labor Party), from Bathurst Island, was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Arafura

1990

ATSIC (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) created – elected regional councils and a board of commissioners made decisions on policy and funding. ATSIC elections were conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission

1992

Maurice Rioli (Australian Labor Party), from Melville Island was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Arafura

John Ah Kit (Australian Labor Party), from Darwin was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Arnhem

1996

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Electoral Information Service was abolished due to withdrawal of Commonwealth funds. Paul Harriss (Independent) elected to the Legislative Council in Tasmania for the electorate for Huon

1998

Aden Ridgeway was the second Indigenous Australian elected to the Australian Federal Parliament. He was born in 1962 at Macksville, New South Wales. Aden Ridgeway took his seat in the Senate as an Australian Democrat for New South Wales on 1 July 1999 following his election at the October 3, 1998 federal election. His term expired on 30 June 2005

2001

Carol Martin (Australian Labor Party), became the first Indigenous Woman to be elected to a State Parliament when she won the seat of Kimberley in the Parliament of Western Australia. Matthew Bonson (Darwin), Elliot McAdam (Tennant Creek) and Marion Scrymgour (Melville Island), were elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorates of Millner, Barkly and Arafura respectively. They join John Ah Kit as members of the first Labor Government in the Northern Territory

2002

Kathryn Hay (Australian Labor Party), elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly representing the electorate of Bass. Marion Scrymgour (Australian Labor Party) in the Northern Territory Assembly became the first female Indigenous minister in any government in the history of Australia.

2003

Linda Burney (Australian Labor Party) is the first Indigenous Australian elected to the New South Wales Parliament. She represents the electorate of Canterbury

2005

Following the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly election, Barbara McCarthy (Territory Labor) was elected to represent the electorate of Arnhem, and Alison Anderson (Territory Labor) was elected to represent the electorate of Macdonnell. They join Matthew Bonson, Elliot McAdam and Marion Scrymgour in the Northern Territory Government. One fifth of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly electorates are represented by Indigenous Australians. Legislation was enacted to dissolve the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and Regional Councils at the end of the 2005 financial year

2006

Ben Wyatt (Australian Labor Party) elected in a by-election to the Western Australian parliament for the electorate of Victoria Park. He was re-elected in 2008.

2008

Marion Scrymgour (Australian Labor Party) in the Northern Territory Assembly became the first female Indigenous deputy chief minister. Adam Giles (Country Liberal Party) was elected to represent the electorate of Braitling in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.

2010

Ken Wyatt (Liberal Party of Australia) was elected as the first Indigenous member of the House of Representatives, representing the electorate of Hasluck in Western Australia.

2011

Chris Bourke (ACT Labor) was the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Ginninderra in Australian Capital Territory

2012

Bess Price (Country Liberal Party) was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Stuart. Francis Kurrupuwu (Country Liberal Party) was also elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Arafura. Larisa Lee (Country Liberal Party) was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Arnhem. Ken Vowles (Territory Labor) was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Johnston

2013

Adam Giles (Country Liberal Party) was appointed the Northern Territory's Chief Minister in March 2013 becoming Australia's first Indigenous head of government. Nova Peris (Australian Labor Party) became the first Indigenous Woman elected to the Australian Parliament and was sworn in as a Senator representing the Northern Territory on 12 November 2013. Josephine (Josie) Farrer (Australian Labor Party) was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Kimberley in Western Australia. Jacqui Lambie (Palmer United Party) was elected Senator for Tasmania

2015

Ken Wyatt (Liberal Party Australia) was appointed the Assistant Health Minister in September 2015 to become the first Indigenous Member of Parliament to reach the frontbench. Joanna Lindgren (Liberal National Party) was appointed a Senator by the Parliament of Queensland to fill the casual vacancy caused by Queensland senator Brett Mason's resignation. Leeanne Enoch (Australian Labor Party) was the first Indigenous Women elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Algester in Queensland. Leeanne has since been appointed the Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation in Queensland. William (Billy) Gordon (Australian Labor Party) was also elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Cook in Queensland. Linda Burney (Australian Labor Party) is currently the NSW Labor Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Note: Individuals listed include those who have self-identified as Indigenous Australians, are recognised as Indigenous Australians by the relevant State Parliamentary Library, or are acknowledged as Indigenous Australians by their local community.